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NYT

Schools across the nation looking at safety measures once dismissed

Now, in the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, school officials across the nation are reviewing security protocols, including lockdown drills and building entry procedures, but also whether to hire more armed guards.

These questions arise amid a broader political and societal debate about gun control. While some people view the prospect of bringing additional guns into schools as fueling a culture of violence, others say children need the protection.

On Sunday, a former education secretary, William J. Bennett, indicated on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would support such measures. “I’m not so sure I wouldn’t want one person in a school armed, ready for this kind of thing,” said Mr. Bennett, who served under President Ronald Reagan.

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Sad as it sounds that is just human nature. Look at how homes are rebuilt after a wildfire destroys a community. Everyone moves back, the homes are built more fireproof, certain plants/shrubs are not allowed to be planted, restrictions on additions and backyard layouts.

Then those people move away, new ones move in, and in 8 years everything is back to the way it was before the wildfire burned the place down. Then a wildfire burns it all down again.

Giving the teachers some sort of non-lethal means is not a bad idea, but I think the only gun carried among school staff should be with the head cheese.

Gatsu on December 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Good idea, let the bad guy know who has to go first. Kind of like this time.

Concerned CHL holders train regularly, much more than once a year. And they choose to be armed. Not forced like your proposal.

Instead of several “gun free zone” signs posted around the school, what if this one was posted: “several of the teachers and staff at this school hold a CHL, they train regularly and are proficient in their chosen craft”. What would the punk have done?

I’d prefer armed teachers, but it’s entirely possible that a $10 can of pepper spray could have saved lives on Friday. Most states will not allow armed teachers. Too many fools in the world, at least for now. In the meantime, let’s give them something to fight back with.

school officials across the nation are reviewing security protocols, including lockdown drills and building entry procedures

As they should. Sandy Hook had building entry procedures and they were overcome. They will have to build layers of defence.

Would an armed guard deter a madman? Maybe.

What if he didn’t? Could the armed guard stop the madman?

Again maybe, but the madman has the element of surprise.

Now we don’t know the details of how he got into the classrooms (were the doors unlocked? Did he shoot them out?) But they may start considering bullet proof doors and glass and keeping the doors locked during class time(they probably already do that).

It’s not. There are schools that have armed guards, not that the MSM would let anyone know of that.

What is difficult is changing the norm, which was established by progressives and forced those districts that may have found them acceptable to conform to the norm.

But having an armed guard at schools doesn’t fit with progs overall goals. Allowing discretion on the part individual districts would also ruin their narrative and goals, because statistics will build up showing gun-free zones are just wanton-slaughter zones and, with each event, more and more schools will abandon the defenselessness of gun-free zones.

And the progs will lose another battle in their war on self-defense rights.

(1) Try to get armed teachers or staff at schools…if you can’t politically that school district or state

(2) Get armed police or security in the schools.

The GOP needs to take this line of argument to counter the gun control nuts. This has nothing to do with guns in America, it has everything to do with protection. That is something you can sell to the American people. If we have armed security at water treatment plants, nuclear power plants, military bases, government buildings, and Mayor Bloomberg has armed protection….why can’t America’s most precious resource…the school children have protection???

Is Mayor Bloomberg special? Does the Caesar of New York need his praetorian guard more than American children? Is his life worth more than a seven year old?

Not sure about the entire state but in the county i live in armed police officers are stationed at all schools. If the government is going to make a gun free zone it is their responsibility to protect said zone form the crazies.

I was discussing this with my daughter on our way to school this morning and asked her about armed guards. She was okay with that. I asked her about armed teachers…not so okay with that. I asked why. her reply was that if she thought the teacher might be armed, she would shut up when told to be quiet. I have been smiling ever since.

In my state the AG had to sue the local state university to let people people keep their civil rights and carry on campus. The liberals went nuts – speaking about how afraid they were that their fellow students would start gunning people down in class rooms if debates got too heated. Strangely enough it hasn’t happened.

Giving the teachers some sort of non-lethal means is not a bad idea, but I think the only gun carried among school staff should be with the head cheese.

[Gatsu on December 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM]

I’d want three or four to be prepared, even if the principal is the one with the gun. I have no idea what the turn-over rate is for various positions, but suspect this will be a significant resume enhancer in the years to come, so, I’d select several and the ones which often stay the longest and/or have been there the longest, if they are either amenable or capable of doing it.

When I was a kid there was such a thing as Dean of Students, who was head of discipline. I’d be looking at that guy or gal now, as the guy I had in mind was a roamer and a checker, in addition to having to handle the kid problems at the school.

Let’s deal with practical solutions. Don’t let “perfect” get in the way of “good”.

WisRich on December 19, 2012 at 11:10 AM

I don’t have issues with any of that. But at the end of the day you have two choice to really deal with the problem. either the government has to protect gun free zones with guns and armed guards with taxpayer money since they are the ones that made it impossible for the schools to do it with their stupid law or you repeal the gun free zone law and allow free idividuals within the community the right to protect their schools how they see fit.

If a liberal neighborhood wants a gun free zone no armed guards etc then when the crazies come a calling the deaths are on their hands. If say TX wants armed guards at thier school then so be it. this like most problems can be solved with federalism as long as we as a nation understand that by giving people freedom they will make the wrong choices. With the threat of legal action in the mix school admin and boards of education will quickly place armed guards in every school.

It is one time I wouldn’t have a problem paying higher taxes if i knew my money was paying for 4 or 5 armed guards in my son’s school. Or the cheaper way would just be to requiire teachers and admin to bne armed. give them a “combat pay bonus” for going through the permit process and training and allow them to earn say 5% when they sign up to be an armed teacher to protect their charges.

I’m loving the stories and pictures on fb and radio about Dad’s who are veterans or cops volunteering their time at their children’s schools. Armed men opening up juice boxes and making kids smile and feel safer.

When I was a kid there was such a thing as Dean of Students, who was head of discipline. I’d be looking at that guy or gal now, as the guy I had in mind was a roamer and a checker, in addition to having to handle the kid problems at the school.

Dusty on December 19, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Not a bad idea, a “free roamer” would be ideal for this sort of situation and having the principal as back up would be even better.